Lock



L. STEIN Aug. 6, 1935.

Filed Feb. 12, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l TO SOURCE TO SOURCE INVENTOR. L 0Ul5 .S 7' f' IN. BY/@Mw U ATTORNEY.

Lt STEIN Aug. 6, 1935.

LOCK

Filed Feb. l2, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Top I sowom cm1-:mm: 55

CENTERLINE ffy. 6.

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 6, 1935. STEIN 2,010,570

LOCK Filed Feb. 12, 1954 3 sheets-sheet INVENTOR. L OUIS 5 TE/N.

ATTORNEY.

' )laifujftiond rings.

Patented Aug. 6, 1935 UNITED Louis'sin, B rgoklyn, N. Y., assigner qf qnefhalf to .Charles M. Hilton, Heyy Bjork, y. Y.

14 Claims.

for an .elepricaH-y' @Ontolled 'JQQKL Whjph Lwill prelrvent belg and any forthgr i "lo @nelle Q.tneas skilled 1n me at mmm-@hemd the underlyhg www t they may embody the same by the nu4 `The lnumeral l0 represents the conven'qrcll me respective lides prngs :24, 24', 24".

The contact points 2|, 2l', 2l" have the respective electrical terminals 4t, 46', 46" for respective engagement with rings 45, 41, 41'. Inner combination rings I1 and I1" as well as auxiliary ring D are provided with slots 25 and 25, 25' and 26', 25" and 2t, respectively, as shown in Fig. 6. Spring members 21 and 28, 21 and 2S', 21" and 23 are fastened on one of the inside walls of the slots respectively. The free ends of said springs extend inside the channels between the combination rings, these channels being designated ab, bc, cd and de. The function of these springs is to guide the trigger I4', carried by slide i4, from one channel' into the other one, preventing at the same time a move in the wrong direction. The trigger I4 is adapted for respective sequential engagement, with the slides 23, 23', 23", to circuinferentially move the saine in their respective grooves 22, 22', 22",;when the dial il] is rotated, in accordance with a. predetermined combination. The operation of the device hereinafter described will more fullyexplain this function. Auxiliary ring E is the locking ring having a stop lug 35g Unless the circuit is closed by theV use of the right combination, locking rod 29, which pro-jects through ring E and is in sliding. engagement therewith,'will beheld by compression spring 3@ in the position shown in Fig. 6. f the circuit is closed by the placing of contact springs 2l, 2i and 2IfA in the right positions, electro-magnet 3i, secured tohousing i5 will be energized, attracting locking rod 29. L v

Other parts of the device will be described inconjunction with its operation which is .as

follows: l

- Assuming that the trigger I4 is still in the po sition shown inl Figure 2, namely, in the space provided for the lock-bolt 36, turning of the knob it will finally bring the trigger to stop 38 shown in Figure 6 and force the trigger into the channel 39. The combination rule for each lock will now take care of the return of the trigger I4 into its ultimate channel ab by passing the trigger through channel 25", then past spring 21', reversing the moving of the trigger, through vchannel 25' into space bc turning past spring 121, reversing the movement to. pass through channel 25 which brings the trigger into channel ab land its starting point. As soon as trigger il. has reached the outward channel in which the lock-bolt 36l is located, the electric circuit may be brokenat any time thereafter, as the trigger I4 does return through slot 39 only. It may be advisable in the manufacturing of the lock to omit any combination electric Contact points betweenv the'space occupied by the two channels 25 and 26 `of the new combination ring E1. This rule will apply to the three combination rings A, B and C. Dial Iii is now turned to a point, at which the trigger I4' will have lef-t contact spring 24 onl top of' contact point 2i. The rotation of dial Iii is thereafter reversed, in direction of arrow 32, whereby trigger i4' will vstrike spring 28 and be forced through slot 23 into that part of channel bc between springs 21 and 28', before striking spring 21. VThe rotation of dial I@ is now reversed until' trigger I4 will have passedspring 28 and will have left contactV spring 24 on top of contact point '2l'. The movement of dial I is again reversed from A,that point, whereby trigger I4' Yis forced against spring 28.' andi forced through slot 2S into channel cd. Before striking spring'21', the rotation of dial' It is reversed until the trigger 'I4' will the dismantling of the device.

" into slot dc, the passage 34 being open on account of closed circuit and the continuation of rotation of dial Ill in the same direction will perlmit trigger I4' to enter through opening 34 striking against stop 35 and sliding into opening 35', and finally moving into fork 3S of slide bolt 31;' Reversing of rotation of dial IiI will now cause trigger i4 to move this slide bolt 31 thereby opening the conventional locking means of vault' or safe door II.

If, however, the combination was not used eX- actly according to intention, the electric circuit will remain open at one of the Contact points 2 I, 2i' or 2| involved in the wrongl'manipulation of the dial and trigger I4'l will continue its movement within channel de, finally nnding its way back to the original position. After the slide bolt 31 has been operated, the trigger will leave the fork 36, strike the cone shaped stop 38 Within opening 39 and be'forced back into channel de, ready for its return'to the original position. Pivotally fastened to shaft I3 by pin 4I is the upsetting arm 4G. This arm 40 has a wedgefshaped projection 42, which will ride on ytop of shelf 43, when trigger slide I4 is in its final operating position. The shelf 43 is an integral part of trigger slide I4. A slight turn of dial IG will then force fingers 44, 44 and 44" of upsetting arm 4U against spring contact slides 23, 23 and 23", upsetting any combinations that may have been made. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 8, this can be done only when arm 49 has been raised by the contacting of projection 42 on shelf 43, otherwise the arm will be in the position shown in Fig. '1,'which brings lingers 44, 44' and 44 below contact slides 23, 23 and 23".

The electric circuit is closed inthe following manner: From wire W to circular contact ring 45, through contact 46 into contact 2|, into contact spring 24, from there into circular contact ring 41, from there through contact spring 45 Yinto contact 2 I into contact spring 24', then into circular contact ring 41', into contact spring 46", into contact 2 I", into slidable contact spring 24 and to circular contact ring 41". Contact spring 48 connects with ring 41" and through wire W with magnet 3l; from there through wire W" back tothe source.

Any change in the combination ofcombination rings as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 necessitates To facilitate this change of combination, Without dismantling, the combination rings may be modified according .to Fig.,9. In this caseinner combination rings I1, I1', I1 are never removed and the outer combination rings are rotatably moved after pin 52 has been lifted from hole i in inner combination rings I1. Fig. 9 shows the master hole 5i) in the outer combination rings I8 and the combination holes 5I in the inner combinationl rings I1. This may be reversed, by having a series Ofcombination holes 5D in the outer combination'rings the inner combination rings I1.

` It istobe borne in mind that the'outer `ring is not changed in relation tothe inner-ring Ain the operation of lthe look. 'Ihis change only takes place after thejloc'k is dismounted for the purpose of changing the combination. VIn other words, when a particular combination has been determined, the outer ring and the inner Iring will re- ,main in their respective fixed relation' th-rough- .o ut the use of the lock until `such time that it is desired to cha-nge the combination of the locl.

After the operator or any unauthorized person has been rotating the dial in a Way so as to leave the ,nger I4 or anyof the contact points in an undesirable position, the-lock will `just fail toopen after the completion of ltheturns according to the combination, andas -in any'present day safe lock, the combination will have to be ,started all over again. The iirst half of the combination turns will insure the nger I4 being returned to the starting position, while the second half of the combination turns will move ,the finger i4 `leaving the `slide members L23, 23', and 2 3 in their respective contact position .thereby closing the electric circuit and insure the operation of .the look.

This above-mentioned first half of the turns will ,conSist of -four turns to ,one side and four turns to the other Vside. Ihe vcombination 'reading Will be such, that the trigger Will move only .a short distance to either side of the Bottom centerline indicated in Fig. 6, orjust enough movement ,to slide along the springs 21, 21 and `2 but not pass the springs 28, 28 and 28. l The location of the trigger i4' in `any of the .channels db, bc, c d or de has no bearing on the -flr. s t` four `double turns, because if the trigger ,-has, .for example, been `in channel b c when the :combination vis started, the remaining three double `turns .will vjust keep it within channel ob. In other words, if, iorexarnple, the dial reading is from l to 1 00, A and dial reading 6.0 coincides :with .the Bottom reenter line, then the first ,eightpioyementslof the dial will be: ,Right to 50, .left to 80 ,-right .to 50, leftto 80, right to 50, left to `8C), right to -50, left to 80. Now the trigger II is surely within the starting channelab kand second half `o i the combination turns will start, the markings arranged such as to move the :trigger 1M ,Withinfeach-channel -so as to leave the slides 23 in `their respective desired location, the next turn moving the trigger L4' throughrfrespectiye slots forward into :the next channel, where .the rlocating o f the nextlslide 2 3'.takes place and repeating -this manipulation until the .operation or `the vlock .takes place.

While the invention as disclosedshows a spring guide arrangement in Fig. 6, 4it is understood and ,easily visualized, that Wedge-shaped memof the type illustrated at 38 may be substiitutedior the ,springs 21121227, 2,8, 28 and 28".

lt is believed from `the above `description that those skilled in the `art will `haveno diiculty in understanding jthe construction, the method of useaand operation of `the device herein disclosed .and-,a `detailed discussion thereof is unnecessary. The invention is of simple and practical con- ,struction and isadapted to accomplish among '..others all of the objects and advantages herein set forth.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so ffullyreveal the gist of :this invention Vthat others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for tvarious .applications 1Without omitting cer- -tain features, that, from the standpoint `pf the prior art, fairly constitute essential characterist-icsfof the generic or -specic aspects of this inverptiori,` and therefore, such adaptations should and f are intended `to -be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims: f

l. A combination lock comprising a fboltfa sourceof electric current, an electromagnet; a eircut making device interposed electrically between said source and said electromagnet, eomprisingfa plurality of spaced electric contact carrying units, a rotatable s haft extending through `said units, la member vlongitnclinal-ly s lidabie on the sha-ft, each of said units having an annular groove, and slots through which said member ma-y be made to pass by rotation of isaid shaft, means -to guide s aid member to saidslots, an electric contact carrying `slide `operable in each of the `annular grooves, and being in the path rof said member to be moved thereby -for making electrical connection between `contacts on adjacent I inits; an auxiliary unit havin g` a passage therethrough and dispqsedin aline- 'ment with said first-mentioned units, the said shaft extending through said auxiliary unit, a spring operated element slidably operable vin said auxiliary unit and projecting ytownormally pro- Vide an obstruction to the passage in saidauxiliary unit, said electromagnet, when all the electric contacts 'between adjacent-units have been made, being energized to actuate said element to open said passage, whereby said member may be passed therethrough by rotation of said shaft `for engagement with said-bolt, and rneansassociated Withhsaid s hait and said member -for upsettingsaid slides after the said member has passed through s aid passage, whereby to 'break the circuit and return said element to its normal position, said auxiliary unit being provided with a passage `for A letiirii ofsaid ymember to said device Lby rotation of ,said Shaft, ,after Sold bolthes .boon operato@ )ZAA ,Combination ,look `oomprisirls o ioolt, o

,Souroeof oleotllo Current, on .olooiromagllol .o

circuit making device interposed oleotrlolly botween .Said source and Seid oloolomogootfoomprisme a plurality vof'Slooood.olootrlo ,Contact .Corrying units a Nrotatable shaft extending through ,salomon aimembor .longitudinally ,s lidoblo ,the sliaft,. eachof said units haring engueuler sloom .ood Slots through which Said member .may bo 4,made to .poss by `rotation of said ,Shaft to auidosold member to .Salo slots, .an eloorlooooi "toot foorlyloe `slid@ .operable .oooh of tho .aonular grooves, .and being .in rthe roth of solo member to be moved thereby for makingelectrical -con;lootlolo between Contacts oo adjacent units; an `auxiliary unit having 'o gassoso therethrough and ,disposed in alinement .with said mst-montioloorl units, the .Said shaft .extending ,through Soldauxiliary unit, and a sprineoperoted element `slidably,o peralole Lin said auxiliary unit and projecting to .normally provide .on obstrlloton .tothe passage in Said auxiliary unit,4 Soidolootromogoot, when all the electric contacts `between adjacent units have been made, beingenergized 4to lactuate said :element to Aopen said passage, whereby said member may .be passed therethrough by rotation of .said shaft :for engagement with said boltk3- A combination .look oomorising a boli, ja source of ,electric current, an electromagnet; a circuit making device Ainterposed electrically `between Asaid Asourceand said electromagnet, com- 7G lpnising a plurality of spaced' electric contact carryinsulaire, o rotatable shaft extending through Sold units., ,o member .loogitildloollr Slldoblo on the shaft, eaelrdf saidiinitshaving an annular-groove, vand slots through which said member -may be made to pass by rotation of said shaft, means to guide said member to said slots, an electric contact carrying slide operable in each of the annular grooves, and being in the path of said member to be moved thereby for making electricalconnection between contacts on adjacent units; an auxiliary unit having a passage therethrough and disposed in alinement with said rst-mentioned units, the said shaft extending through said auxiliary unit, a spring operated element slidably operable in said auxiliary unit and projecting to normally provide an obstruction to the passage in said auxiliary unit, said electromagnet, when all the electric contacts between adjacent units have been made, being energized to actuate said element to open said passage, whereby said member may be passed therethrough by rotation of said shaft for engagement with said bolt, and means associated with said shaft and said member for upsetting said slides after the said member has passed through said passage, whereby to break the circuit and return said element to its normal position.

4. An electrically controlled locking device `comprising a source of electric current, an electromagnet having Yone of its terminals connected to one terminal of said source, a bolt, a plurality of longitudinally spaced units, each carrying an electric contact, means connecting one of said contacts to the other terminal of said source, a rotatable shaft extending through said units, a member longitudinally slidable on said shaft, each of said units having a passage through which said member may be made to pass by rotation of said shaft, means to guide said member to said passages, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of said member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between the contacts of said adjacent units to energize said electromagnet, a slidable element normally obstructing the passage in the last unit, said electromagnet when energized actuating said element for opening said latter passage, whereby said member may be passed therethrough by rotation of said shaft for engagement with said bolt, and means for automatically upsetting said circumferentially slidable electric contacts after the said member has passed through said latter passage, whereby to break the circuit and return said element to its normal position, said units being provided with passages through which said member may be returned to its initial starting position by rotation of said shaft.

5. An electrically controlled locking device comprising a source of electric current, an electromagnet having one of its terminals connected to one terminal of said source, a bolt, a plurality of longitudinally spaced units, each carrying an electric contact, means connecting one of said contacts to the other terminal of said source, a rotatable shaft extending through said units, a member longitudinally slidable on said shaft, each of said units having a passage through which said member may be made to pass by rotation of said shaft, means to guide said member to said passages, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of said member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between the contacts o-f said adjacent units to energize said electromagnet, and a slidable element normally obstructing the passage in the last unit, said electromagnet when energized actuating said element 'for opening said latter passage, whereby said Y member may be passed therethrough by rotation of said shaft Vfor engagement with said bolt.

6. An electrically controlled locking Vdevice comprising a source of electric current, an electromagnet having one of its terminals connected to oneV terminal of said source, a bolt, a plurality of longitudinally spaced units, each carrying an electric contact, means connecting one of said contacts to the other terminal of said source, a rotatable shaft extending through said units, a member longitudinally slidable on said shaft, each of said units having a passage through which said member may be made to pass by rotation of said shaft, means to guide said member to said passages, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between kadjacent units and being in the path of said member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between the contacts of said adjacent units to energize` said electromagnet, a slidable element normally obstructing the passage in the last unit, said electromagnet when energized actuating said element for opening said latter passage, whereby said member may be passed therethrough by rotation of said shaft for engagement with said bolt, and means for automatically upsetting said circumferentially slidable electric contacts after the said member has passed through said latter passage, whereby to break the circuit and return said element to its normal position.

7. A combination lock comprising a bolt, a source of electric current, an electromagnet; a circuit making device interposed electrically between said source and said electromagnet, comprising a plurality of longitudinally spaced units, each unit comprising two elements, one adjustable relative to the other, and being electrically connected, a rotatable shaft extending through said units, a member longitudinally slidable on said shaft, each of said units having a passage through which said member may be made to pass by rotation of `said shaft, for engagement with said bolt, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of said member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between said adjacent units, to energize said electromagnet, an element providing an obstruction for the passage of said member between said device and said bolt,`said electromagnet when energized, actuating said element to permit engagement of said member with said bolt when said shaft is rotated.

8. An electrically-controlled locking device for association with a source of electric current, comprising an electromagnet, a bolt, .a plurality of spaced units, each carrying an electric contact, means connecting one of said contacts and said electromagnet to said source, a rotatable shaft extending through said units, a member longitudinally slidable on said shaft, each of said units having a passage through which said member may be made-to pass by rotation of said shaft, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of said member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between the contacts of said adjacent units to energize said electromagnet, and a movable element normally obstructing the passage in the last unit, said electroinagnet when energized actuating said element for opening said latter passage, whereby said member may be passed therethrough by rotation of said shaft for engagement with said bolt.

9. An electrically-controlled loci-:ing device for association with a source of electric current, comprising an electromagnet, a bolt, a plurality of electric contact carrying units, one of the contacts and the electro-magnet being connected to said source, a rotatable shaft, a member slidable on the shaft, said units having openings for passage of the member by rotation of the shaft, a circumferentially slidabie electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of the member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between contacts of adjacent units to energize the ele-etromagnet, and means normally obstructing the opening in thelast unit, the electromagnet, when energized actuating said means for clearing the latter opening, whereby the member may be passed therethrough by rotation of the shaft for engagement with the bolt.

l0. An electrically-controlled locking device for association with a source of electric current, comprising an electromagnet, a bolt, a plurality of electric contact carrying units, one of the contacts and the electromagnet being connected to said source, a rotatable shaft, a member slidable on the shaft, said units having openings for passage of the member by rotation of the shaft, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of the member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between contacts of adjacent units to energize the electromagnet, means normally obstructing the opening in the last unit, the electromagnet, when energized actuating said means for clearing the latter opening, whereby the member may be passed therethrough by rotation of the shaft for engagement with the bolt, and means associated with the shaft and the member for upsetting the slidable electric contacts after the member has passed through said latter opening, whereby to break the circuit.

1l. An electrically-controlled locking device 'for association with a source of electric current, comprising an electromagnet, a bolt, a plurality of electric contact carrying units, one of the contacts and the electromagnet being connected to said source. a rotatable shaft, a member slidable on the shaft, said units having openings for pasof the member by rotation of the shaft, a circumierentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of the member to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between contacts of adjacent units to energize the electromagnet, means normally obstructing the opening in the last unit, the electromagnet, when energized actuating said means for whereby to break the circuit, and means for the return of the member to one of the units after the bolt has been operated.

l2. A combination lock for association with a source of electric current, comprising a bolt, an electrically energizable member; a circuit making device interposed between the source and the member, comprising a plurality of spaced units, each unit comprising two elements, one adjustable relative to the other, and being electrically connected, a rotatable shaft, a slide on the shaft, each of said units having a passage through which the slide may be made to pass by rotation of the shaft, for engagement with the bolt, a circumferentially slidable electric contact between adjacent units and being in the path of said slide to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between adjacent units, to energize said member; an element providing an obstruction, for the passage of the slide between the device and the bolt, the member when energized, actuating the element to permit engagement of the slide with the bolt when the shaft is rotated.

13. A combination lock for association with a source of electric current and a bolt, comprising an electrically-energizable member; a circuit making device between the source and the member, comprising a plurality of spaced units, a rotatable shaft, a slide on the shaft for ultimate engagement with the bolt, movable electric contacts between adjacent units and being in the path of the slide to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between adjacent units, to energize said member; an element providing an obstruction for the passage of the slide between the device and the bolt, the member when energized, actuating the element to permit engagement of the slide with the bolt when the shaft is rotated.

14. A combination lock for association with a source of electric current and a bolt, comprising an electrically-energizable member; a circuit making device between the source and the member, comprising a plurality of spaced units, a rotatable shaft, a slide on the shaft for ultimate engagement with the bolt, movable electric contacts between adjacent units and being in the path of the slide to be moved thereby for making electrical connection between adjacent units, to energize said member; an element providing an obstruction for the passage of the slide between the device and the bolt, the member when energized, actuating the element to permit engagement of the slide with the bolt when the shaft is rotated, and means associated with the shaft and the slide for upsetting the movable contacts after the slide has operated the bolt, whereby to break the circuit.

LOUIS STEIN. 

